Killing Pretty: A Sandman Slim Novel

James Stark has met his share of demons and angels, on Earth and beyond. Now he's come face to face with the one entity few care to meet: Death. Someone has tried to kill Death - ripping the heart right out of him - or rather the body he's inhabiting. Death needs Sandman Slim's help: He believes anyone who can beat Lucifer and the old gods at their own game is the only one who can solve his murder.

Devil in the Dollhouse: A Sandman Slim Story #3.5

James Stark, a.k.a. Sandman Slim, has a new job, but being the new Lucifer in town gives fresh meaning to the word "Hell." Especially when he hears of hideous massacres near a haunted fortress out on Hell's frontier. As far as Stark's concerned, the more dead Hellions, the better, but he still has to prove that no one screws with Sandman Slim. And facing creatures so terrible even Hell does not want them is no cakewalk, even for Lucifer.

The Perdition Score: A Sandman Slim Novel

The request from Thomas Abbot, the Augur of the Sub Rosa council, couldn't come at a better time for James Stark, aka Sandman Slim. For a man who's most recently met Death - and Death's killer - a few months of normal life is more than he can handle. He needs a little action, and now Abbott wants Stark and Candy to investigate the disappearance of a young boy - and help uncover council members who might be tied to Wormwood's power brokers.

Butcher Bird: A Novel of the Dominion

Spyder Lee is a happy man who lives in San Francisco and owns a tattoo shop. One night an angry demon tries to bite his head off before he's saved by a stranger. The demon infected Spyder with something awful - the truth. He can suddenly see the world as it really is: full of angels and demons and monsters and monster-hunters. A world full of black magic and mysteries. These are the Dominions, parallel worlds full of wonder, beauty, and horror

The Everything Box: A Novel

A beautiful, ambitious angel stands on a mountaintop, surveying the world and its little inhabitants below. He smiles because soon, the last of humanity who survived the great flood will meet its end, too. And he should know. He's going to play a big part in it. Our angel usually doesn't get to do fieldwork, and if he does well, he's certain he'll get a big promotion.

The Castle Doctrine: Daniel Faust, Volume 6

Out of prison and back on the streets, Daniel Faust returns home to a city on fire. The Chicago mob is making their play for control of Las Vegas, with an army of gunmen and a lethal shapeshifter on their side, while Daniel's friend Jennifer marshals the forces of the Vegas underworld. Staying on the sidelines isn't an option, especially when a Metro detective orders him to get the war under control - and if he can't, he'll expose Daniel's secrets to the FBI.

Monster Hunter Memoirs: Sinners

With New Orleans out of control, Chad Oliver Gardenier, one of Monster Hunter International's premier hunters, has been dispatched from Seattle to reinforce the beleaguered members of MHI'S Hoodoo Squad in their fight against the darkness.

Monster Hunter Memoirs: Grunge

When marine private Oliver Chadwick Gardenier is killed in the marine barrack bombing in Beirut, somebody who might be Saint Peter gives him a choice: Go to heaven, which, while nice, might be a little boring, or return to earth. The Boss has a mission for him, and he's to look for a sign. He's a marine: He'll choose the mission. Unfortunately, the sign he's to look for is "57". Which, given the food services contract in Bethesda Hospital, creates some difficulty. Eventually it appears that God's will is for Chad to join a group called Monster Hunters International.

Promise of Wrath: Hellequin Chronicles, Book 6

A terrible storm is brewing in London, and Nathan Garrett, the sorcerer known as Hellequin, is the only one who can stop it. But his enemies have other plans. Harnessing the power of an ancient stone tablet, they cast Nate and his allies into another realm, where a bloody conflict rages between creatures twisted by magic. Meanwhile, with his friends' lives in danger, Nate must put centuries of differences aside, and place his trust in one of his greatest foes.

The Long Way Down: Daniel Faust, Book 1

Nobody knows the seedy underbelly of Las Vegas like Daniel Faust, a sorcerer for hire and ex-gangster who uses black magic and bullets to solve his clients' problems. When an old man comes seeking vengeance for his murdered granddaughter, what looks like a simple job quickly spirals out of control. Soon Daniel stands in the crossfire between a murderous porn director; a corrupt cop with a quick trigger finger; and his own former employer, a racket boss who isn't entirely human.

Rogues

Demon Accords number 10. When a hunter is brutally mauled in northern Maine, it's presumed that a black bear is the killer. But an astute local deputy suspects a more supernatural element. His call for assistance is answered by the supernatural community sending one of their very best. If it takes a thief to catch a thief, who do you use to catch a werewolf? But nothing is ever simple in the preternatural world. There's more here than meets the eye... nose... ear... or fang.

God Touched: The Demon Accords, Book 1

Chris Gordon is a rookie with the NYPD - one with a secret. In his spare time Chris is an exorcist without equal, with a gift from God. But when he saves a beatiful girl from a demonic attack, he discovers there is more to fear than just demons. Finding himself surrounded by vampires and were-weasels and facing a giant short-faced bear, Chris struggles to stay alive, all while protecting his deadly new girlfriend. And then there's her overprotective vampire mother!

Fated: Alex Verus Series, Book 1

Alex Verus is part of a world hidden in plain sight, running a magic shop in London. And while Alex's own powers aren't as showy as some mages, he does have the advantage of foreseeing the possible future-allowing him to pull off operations that have a million-to-one-chance of success. But when Alex is approached by multiple factions to crack open a relic from a long-ago mage war, he knows that whatever's inside must be beyond powerful.

In Shining Armor: Pax Arcana Series, Book 4

When someone kidnaps the last surviving descendant of the Grandmaster of the Knights Templar, it's bad news. When the baby is the key to the tenuous alliance between a large werewolf pack and the knights, it's even worse news. They're at each other's throats before they've even begun to look for baby Constance. But whoever kidnapped Constance didn't count on one thing: She's also the goddaughter of John Charming, modern-day descendant of a long line of famous dragon slayers, witch finders, and wrong righters.

Dead Man: Black Magic Outlaw, Book 1

I'm Cisco Suarez: necromancer, shadow charmer, black magic outlaw. Sounds kinda cool, doesn't it? It was, right until I woke up half dead in a dumpster. Did I say half dead? Because I meant 100% dead. Full on. I don't do things halfway. So here I am, alive for some reason, just another sunny day in Miami. It's a perfect paradise, except I'm into something bad. Wanted by police, drenched in the stink of dark magic, nether creatures coming out of the woodwork, and don't get me started on the Haitian voodoo gang.

Heaven Sent: Quincy Harker Demon Hunter, Book 5

Quincy Harker is walking on the side of the angels this time. Or at least beside an angel. It's the summer of 2009, and Harker, the immortal magic-wielding nephew of Dracula, has a brand-new guardian angel. Her name is Glory, and she's there to try to keep Harker from getting himself killed. Try is the operative word.

Powder Trade: Black Magic Outlaw, Book 4

Cisco Suarez versus an entire Caribbean drug cartel. Round one. Fight. Okay, not exactly the most even championship match, but it's the one I drew. If you told me months ago I'd be robbing drug dealers, I would've committed you myself. Who needs that kind of trouble, right? The good news is I'm only after one man: Connor Hatch. The bad news is he's the new Pablo Escobar, a primal being, and all but untouchable.

Grimoire of the Lamb: An Iron Druid Chronicles Novella

When he’s not vanquishing villainous gods or dodging demons, 2,000-year-old Druid Atticus O’Sullivan can be found behind the counter of Third Eye Books and Herbs in modern-day Tempe, Arizona, literally minding his own business. But when an evil sorcerer - and amateur shoplifter - snatches an ancient Egyptian tome of black magic, The Grimoire of the Lamb, Atticus is not sheepish about pursuing him to the ends of the earth...or at least to the Land of the Pharaohs.

Hard Luck Hank: Stank Delicious, Book 5

Belvaille has cemented its place as the most important system in the galaxy and Hank is working as an official Factotum, negotiating deals between gangs and noblemen under the watchful eye of the Arch Minister. When his ever-capable butler, Cliston, is approached to become the General Manager of a Super Class glocken team, Hank is hired not only as protection, but as a player. Hank finds himself thrown into the most grueling bloodsport in the galaxy and tasked with finding out how and why players are being abducted.

The Secret of the Dark Forest: Way of the Shaman Series, Book 3

The virtual world of Barliona is a place of rest and entertainment - but not for everyone. It has become a survival arena for Daniel Mahan after he was sentenced to eight years in its virtual jail. Mahan has been through it all: the back-breaking work in the mines, betrayal by other prisoners, and finally, the retrial which has released him into Barliona's common world. What more could one want? Mahan could have kept a low profile and enjoyed relative freedom while serving the rest of his time.

Shadow Play: Black Magic Outlaw, Book 2

I'm Cisco Suarez, and a week ago I was dead. Cursed into serving a clandestine shadow group, I have a lot of blood on my hands. Good thing I also have a juvenile problem with authority. I'm not taking orders anymore, and the first thing on my bucket list is bringing them down. If I'm good at anything, it's looking in dark places. But I've got shadows of my own. Horrific deeds coming back to haunt me, and not the metaphorical kind of haunting, either. I'm talking ghosts, mages, and that thing with the glowing red eyes.

The Purloined Poodle

Thanks to his relationship with the ancient Druid Atticus O'Sullivan, Oberon the Irish wolfhound knows trouble when he smells it - and furthermore, he knows he can handle it. When he discovers that a prizewinning poodle has been abducted in Eugene, Oregon, he learns that it's part of a rash of hound abductions all over the Pacific Northwest. Since the police aren't too worried about dogs they assume have run away, Oberon knows it's up to him to track down those hounds and reunite them with their humans. For justice! And gravy!

Year One: A Quincy Harker, Demon Hunter Collection

There are things in this world that men and women aren't meant to understand. We aren't supposed to know these things exist, much less how to fight them. The things that go bump in the night, the monsters in the closet, the shadow out of the corner of your eye - that's where I live.

Immortal: Curse of the Deathless

Asher Hearst is a college student, and the closest thing he has to a superpower is being able to take a punch. Basically all he has going for him is an edgy sense of humor - and that he can't die. As a small-time fixer, he's about to get involved in a job best left alone. After he gets involved with witches and the supernatural, there's no turning back.

Publisher's Summary

Audie Award Finalist, Fantasy, 2014

Another day, another apocalypse....

James Stark, aka Sandman Slim, has managed to get out of Hell, renounce his title as the new Lucifer, and settle back into life in L.A. But he also lost the Qomrama Om Ya, an all-powerful weapon from the banished older gods. Older gods who are returning and searching for their lost power.

The hunt leads Stark to an abandoned shopping mall - a global shopping paradise infested with Lurkers and wretched bottom-feeding Sub Rosa families, squatters who have formed tight tribes to guard their tiny patches of retail wasteland. Somewhere in this kill zone is a dead man with the answers Stark needs. All Stark has to do is find the dead man, recover the artifact, and outwit and outrun the angry old gods - and natural-born killers - on his tail.

But not even Sandman Slim is infallible, and any mistakes will cost him dearly.

What made the experience of listening to Kill City Blues the most enjoyable?

The stories are good and the narrartor is excellent. The best thing about the book and the series as a whole is how well the author captured the whole "punk" vibe. This is definitely cyberpunk, but with a supernatural angle instead. maybe I should call it "Superunk" or something. This book and series is just one of those times when you hit the perfect combination of book and narrator. I actually enjoyed listening to the book more than reading it.

What other book might you compare Kill City Blues to and why?

It is comparable to the other books in the series, although the main character is starting to grow up a bit. Overall, there isn't much else to compare it to as it is a unique take on the genre.

Which character – as performed by MacLeod Andrews – was your favorite?

Casabian. The interaction and sheer attitude the narrator gives to the character make the portions where Casabian shows up steal the scenes he is in.

If you could take any character from Kill City Blues out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Samael. How many times do you get to go to dinner with the devil (former)? Although, I am sure he would get me drunk, roll me and then leave me with the check.

Any additional comments?

If you are heavily religious (Christian) you might be offended by the content of the series and it's attitude towards God, the Devil, heaven and hell. It definitely comes from a strong Gnostic point of view. honestly why are you still reading this? Get the book already...

After u read the 1st Sandman Slim book u've decided whether u hate it or find it blasphemously funny & entertaining. I'd recommend it to anyone whose read the books & liked them or are looking for fresh, dark fun thru the mind of a madman who is slowly trying to become sane.

I was jumping between this book & another because the release dates were so close, but subject wise the stories were completely diff. so going back n forth was not a problem.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked these books because it straddles many genre's & touches morality often: Fantasy, thriller/semi-mystery (more similar to its a mystery about how 'Stark/Slim' will escape various wild situations or solve problems like wars between angels, archangels, god's, sub-rosa - human magic users, & mere mortals), comedy, & in a wicked sense basic theology. The theological portions will insult & turn off 'religious' people, but don't get me started on organized religion... the amount of people that have died in the name of any god is disgusting but the Sandman Slim books aren't about being 'P.C.' & he openly gives the opinion that many people probably believe in some degree deep down inside but are too ashamed to articulate. That's the best thing about the Sandman... obv. not everything, but there are many thoughts he openly addresses that I think people are not willing to admit they feel the same way or wonder the same things about the thing we call religion... notice I did not use the word spirituality, that's a diff. word all together

What does MacLeod Andrews bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He is as excellent narrator & brings all the characters life, as another reviewer mentioned Casabian is an excellent character narrated & brings it more to life than if I just read it... it might sound weird but he almost sounds like Eminem reading me a book, ha.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The conversation Stark has with Satan over coffee & donuts (a human made pastry that is depicted as a food product the devil regrets never thinking up lol). Its great how it comes to pass that they are able to sit & talk & never disappoints in comedy, ex. hey I remembered when person X sold me their soul for that promotion, as said person is seen walking down the sidewalk across the street

Any additional comments?

Stark or Sandman Slim (I don't know if I can classify him as completely a protagonist or an antagonist posing as an unwilling "hero") who is battling moral dilemma's & trying his best to be a better 'person' (he's part-human) but has a reputation that precedes him everywhere he goes & he also has a purely brutality honest outlook on his value of life & the sets of principles that guide him (since he was a lone human-like creature ever to survive hell which obv. has changed him), his 'love' for 'candy' a girl who happens to be a creature more viscous than a vampire & importantly give balance to a weight within Stark that tends to fall on the side of destruction now, wonder why later. Stark & his band of misfits from past books all come together to retrieve a religious relic that will help the world from being destroyed by something else than god... which I found comical let alone its kinda funny how god the devil & good vs. evil is explained & represented in the book, no spoilers for anyone who hadn't read any of the books but its safe to say there is a logical reason god doesn't directly help humans in everyday events that make all people wonder why 'horrible things happen to nice people.' The series is a good read if u are not easily insulted, religiously pious,

oh I do love these books. Took me by surprise on the first one, Sandman Slim, and the rest just kept me looking for more. I have them all now. The very definition of addiction. I'll be listening to one of these, cruising along minding my own business, and find myself suddenly laughing out loud, a rare thing for me to do - to the strange stares of others... no matter. Periodically you just have to stop to admire some of the lines - some so funny and some very thoughtful - and when is the last time you did that with a book? I've even had to add some of the Kindle books in this series.

Kill City Blues is another outstanding addition. The only problem is that I finished it and I need more.

I love just about everything in this series and in this Book 5. I love all the characters that MacLeod Andrews brings to life so perfectly. I love the writing that is so rich with emotion about the universe, the world and people. I can totally see this entire series as a film. I know I have said it before in my previous reviews, but these are such awesome books that impart a beautiful visual display as I listen. I don't mind at all that the book ends with a "To Be Continued". I certainly will read/listen to the next one. I don't want it to end.

Stark is far more human in this story than at any other time so far. He seems to want to distance himself from Sandman Slim. He just felt more fragile to me than he has been before. It was still a good story and I still want more Sandman Slim.

This is turning out to be a great series. Stark has changed a lot, but remains much the same. He still does crazy stuff and takes huge risks, but for better reasons. It nice to see the growth of his character grow in a believable way while keeping his gritty punk edge.As always, a couple chuckles, a couples grimaces and a couple moments of surprise. If your just seeing this series, start at the beginning. It is well worth the listen if you're into this genre. I absolutely love the split God characters and the original Lucifer (sp?).

Stark is after the Qomrama Om Ya or magic eight ball, a powerful weapon with lethal magical potency. The quirky mainly outlandish, bizarre characters are the strength of this book ,I laughed, gasped, cringed, balked, unwilling to put my ipod down. Loved it.Stark unusually has to work as a team to get hold of the ball. Powerful beings are pushing through a weakness in to our world, but Stark, the killer of monsters has something to say about that.

Must not forget to mention the very superb narration by Macleod Andrews, brilliant.

Don't begin here though if you have not met Stark before, start with 'Sandman Slim' which is the first in the series.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

CathyR

Wales, UK

8/7/13

Overall

Performance

Story

"Pandemonium and destruction rules!"

James Stark aka Sandman Slim returns in another mind blowing, monster killing adventure. This is the 5th in the series and it shows no signs of running out of steam. Murder and mayhem are Stark's close companions as ever and the story is as fresh and exciting as the first one. The action is mad and freaky, the story is dark, gritty and the dialogue zips along with snarky humour. Stark has kind of grown up and we can see a different side to him, maybe because he cares about his friends more and can show it. MacLeod Andrews' narration is superb and gives each character his/her own personality and voice. I love these books and can't wait for the next one.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

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